Tesis--Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1958. / Bibliography: p. 57-58.

Although power system reliability analysis is a mature research area, there is a renewed interest in updating available network models and formulating improved reliability assessment procedures. The main driver of this interest is the current transition to a new flexible and actively controlled power supply system with a high penetration of distributed generation (DG) and energy storage (ES) technologies, wider implementation of demand-side management (DSM) and application of automated control, monitoring, protection and communication infrastructures. One of the aims of this new electricity supply network (’the smart grid’) is an improved reliability and power quality performance, realised through the delivery of an uninterrupted and high-quality supply of electrical energy. However, there is currently no integrated methodology to measure the effects of these changes on the overall system reliability performance. This PhD research aims to update the standard power system simulation engine with improved numerical software models offering new capabilities for the correct assessment of quality of supply in future electricity networks. The standard reliability analysis is extended to integrate some relevant power quality aspects, enabling the classification of short and long supply interruptions by the correct modelling of network protection and reconfiguration schemes. In addition, the work investigates the formulation and analysis of updated reliability indicators for a more accurate validation and benchmarking of both system and end-user performance. A detailed database with typical configurations and parameters of UK/European power systems is established, providing a set of generic models that can correctly represent actual distribution networks supplying a mix of residential, commercial and industrial demand for different load sectors. A general methodology for reducing system complexity by calculating both electrical and reliability equivalent models of LV and MV distribution networks is also presented. These equivalent models, based on the aggregation of individual component models, help to reduce calculation times while preserving the accuracy assessment of network’s reliability performance at bulk supply points. In addition, the aggregated counterparts (same and mixed-type) of different ’smart’ component models (DG, ES and DSM) are also included in the analysis, showing how their co-ordinated implementation and control could improve quality of supply. Conventional reliability assessment procedures are also extended in this thesis to include accurate reliability equivalent models, network contingency statistics, actual load profiles and empirical fault probability distributions, which are employed to assess the frequency and duration of interruptions in the supply system for different scenarios. Both analytical and probabilistic simulation techniques (Monte Carlo method) are developed to include up-to-date security of supply legislation, introducing a new methodology for calculating the standard set of indices reported annually to energy regulators.

The extensive use of nonlinear loads in today’s world has inspired considerable research interest in the area of power quality improvement. This thesis proposes an integrated magnetics based compact solution which provides regulated, balanced and sinusoidal load voltage drawing sinusoidal and balanced currents from the grid. Thus, it supplies clean power to the load without polluting the grid. It consists of an EI shaped magnetic core and two compensators known as the series and shunt compensators. The series compensator ensures the quality of output voltage, where as the shunt one takes care of quality of the current drawn from the grid. The magnetic circuit acts as a common domain for interaction between the energy ports. It also provides galvanic isolation between the inverters, load and the grid. The magnetic circuit incorporates a virtual arm switching mechanism to have an option of connecting the inverters either in series or in parallel with each other depending on the requirements. During normal mode when the switch remains inactive, the series inverter is effectively in series with the load and the shunt inverter is effectively connected across the load. Therefore, the voltage source inverters can be independently controlled to serve the purpose of series and shunt compensation. The shunt inverter is always connected in shunt with the grid. The magnetic arm switch is activated during grid power failure. Then the switch ensures parallel connection of the inverters and the load. The inverters are controlled to share the load power according to the respective ratings. Thus the magnetic arm switching mechanism helps in improving the system reliability. The series inverter also can be connected in parallel with the shunt one in presence of the grid to supplement the shunt inverter by supplying harmonic and reactive currents. The design, modelling and implementation issues for single phase applications are considered first. A simple controller structure for this application is also discussed in the thesis. The individual compensation actions are then verified by simulation and experimental results. The three phase power quality compensator is in principle an extension of the single phase quality power supply. It is realized by combining three single phase units with minor modification in terms of windings. A more compact structure is also proposed wherein a single integrated magnetic circuit for the three phase application can be used. The composite magnetic circuit is modelled and designed considering a laboratory prototype. A synchronously rotating reference frame based controller structure for the series and shunt compensators are discussed. The control of the inverters in power sharing mode (with parallel connected inverters) are also proposed and discussed. Experimental and simulated results are presented to verify and validate the operation of this compensator in different operating modes. An effective improvement in the control dynamics is achieved for handling unbalanced and nonlinear loading without increasing inverter switching frequency and controller parameters. In other words, the modified control scheme can handle nonlinear and unbalanced loading with relatively slow proportional integral (PI) controllers. Suitable feed forward compensation terms corresponding to each harmonic component are added to the output of the PI controllers in order to achieve this effective improvement. Experimental results show good improvement in this regard (for both series and shunt compensations).

Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Este presente trabalho visa fornecer novas ferramentas para a análise de índices de qualidade no âmbito do planejamento agregado de investimentos em sistemas de distribuição primária. O planejamento agregado de investimentos representa uma metodologia de previsão de investimentos em Sistemas de Distribuição de uma empresa, que utiliza a análise estatística e classificação de rede em famílias para representação da rede, considera aspectos de incertezas e critérios de priorização de obras, em função dos recursos disponíveis, e informa o tipo de obra a ser realizada e o montante de investimentos necessário por tipo de obra. Este trabalho procura complementar o modelo através da análise técnica dos índices de qualidade, quantificando-se os benefícios obtidos ao longo do horizonte de estudo, através de um sistema computacional que, baseado nos resultados dos representantes dos grupos de redes, determina os índices técnicos para tais representantes, para as regionais definidas e para todo o sistema, possibilitando a análise gerencial da evolução da rede elétrica. Também foi desenvolvida ferramenta que permite a determinação do Custo Incremental Médio de Longo Prazo (CIMLP) e do Custo Marginal do sistema de média tensão, englobando subestações de distribuição e circuitos primários do sistema elétrico. O trabalho é finalizado com o estudo de um caso de planejamento de uma área de concessão de uma empresa fictícia, onde são executados os processamentos e analisados os resultados técnicos, de custos e de qualidade. / This work aims at developing new tools for the analysis of quality of supply indices regarding long term investment planning of primary electric power distribution systems. Investment planning in aggregated basis represents a established methodology for estimating future investments in all distribution systems of a utility, by using statistic and clustering analysis to represent the overall network through groups of elementary distribution systems. The methodology also considers uncertainty and makes use of a number of criteria to prioritize new facilities to be incorporated into the system, taking into account financial constraints. For each new facility the system determines costs and corresponding benefits. This dissertation complements such model through the introduction and analysis of various quality of supply indices, helping the planner engineer to assess all benefits related to a given investment plan. The developed computational system is based on the results obtained for each elementary distribution system. It then evaluates global and regional technical indices, that allows for important managerial analysis concerning the system expansion. The computational system also evaluates the average long range incremental and the marginal costs associated with a specific investment plan, thus taking into account new facilities concerning substations and network feeders. A case study considering a fictitious distribution company and its overall system illustrates the tools developed, showing all potential studies and decision making capabilities which were made available during this research work.

Este presente trabalho visa fornecer novas ferramentas para a análise de índices de qualidade no âmbito do planejamento agregado de investimentos em sistemas de distribuição primária. O planejamento agregado de investimentos representa uma metodologia de previsão de investimentos em Sistemas de Distribuição de uma empresa, que utiliza a análise estatística e classificação de rede em famílias para representação da rede, considera aspectos de incertezas e critérios de priorização de obras, em função dos recursos disponíveis, e informa o tipo de obra a ser realizada e o montante de investimentos necessário por tipo de obra. Este trabalho procura complementar o modelo através da análise técnica dos índices de qualidade, quantificando-se os benefícios obtidos ao longo do horizonte de estudo, através de um sistema computacional que, baseado nos resultados dos representantes dos grupos de redes, determina os índices técnicos para tais representantes, para as regionais definidas e para todo o sistema, possibilitando a análise gerencial da evolução da rede elétrica. Também foi desenvolvida ferramenta que permite a determinação do Custo Incremental Médio de Longo Prazo (CIMLP) e do Custo Marginal do sistema de média tensão, englobando subestações de distribuição e circuitos primários do sistema elétrico. O trabalho é finalizado com o estudo de um caso de planejamento de uma área de concessão de uma empresa fictícia, onde são executados os processamentos e analisados os resultados técnicos, de custos e de qualidade. / This work aims at developing new tools for the analysis of quality of supply indices regarding long term investment planning of primary electric power distribution systems. Investment planning in aggregated basis represents a established methodology for estimating future investments in all distribution systems of a utility, by using statistic and clustering analysis to represent the overall network through groups of elementary distribution systems. The methodology also considers uncertainty and makes use of a number of criteria to prioritize new facilities to be incorporated into the system, taking into account financial constraints. For each new facility the system determines costs and corresponding benefits. This dissertation complements such model through the introduction and analysis of various quality of supply indices, helping the planner engineer to assess all benefits related to a given investment plan. The developed computational system is based on the results obtained for each elementary distribution system. It then evaluates global and regional technical indices, that allows for important managerial analysis concerning the system expansion. The computational system also evaluates the average long range incremental and the marginal costs associated with a specific investment plan, thus taking into account new facilities concerning substations and network feeders. A case study considering a fictitious distribution company and its overall system illustrates the tools developed, showing all potential studies and decision making capabilities which were made available during this research work.

In the recent years, governments have encouraged the utilization of renewable energy by providing incentives to investors, and enhancing traditional practices in the sector. For example, in Ontario, Canada, local distribution companies can now legally own and operate up to 10 MW generating plant per location as long as it is from a renewable source. Although this trend results in some operational benefits for the host networks, it also creates specific technical challenges and economic problems. New modeling approaches are needed to account for the main features of power produced by these facilities, namely, the uncertainty and uncontrollability. The uncertainty of power produced by weather-based generating facilities affects the decisions of different activities related to the operation of distribution systems. Examples of these tasks include power procurement decisions, the assessment of voltage magnitude variation, and reactive power management. If not properly included, uncertainty could result in non optimal outcome of operational activities of a distribution system operator. Based on different optimization techniques, the thesis introduces several models that capture the uncertain behavior of renewable resources. Two operational tasks were selected for application using the enhanced models: economical operation of distribution system and impact assessment on voltage magnitude. The power procurement problem is an operational challenge to acquire the correct economic mix of power purchases to supply the demand of a local distribution company. Three models have been presented to formulate the power procurement problem with a consideration of the stochastic nature of renewable generation. These models select the optimal quantities of bilateral contracts under uncertain renewable generation and give the option to decision makers to recalculate the powers from other sources. In one of these proposed models, the mean-variance theory is utilized to evaluate the risk associated with the variation of renewable power output on the financial efficiency of a local distribution company. Unlike previous studies, in which renewable power production is identified as a decision variable, in this work the generation from these units is represented as a parameter to model their feature of uncontrollability. Comparison of results obtained from using the proposed models showed that the degree of uncertainty plays an important role in selecting the proper mix. In general, stochastic based algorithms are superior to deterministic approaches when increasing contributions from renewable resources are considered. A major technical problem that may be caused by the uncertain generation of renewable units is the increase of voltage variation. The second part of the thesis introduces a methodology based on a Monte-Carlo technique to assess new installation depending on its impact on the quality of supply voltage. Two different standard measures for supply voltage quality are applied in this approach to provide the decision maker a tool that can be used to authorize new connections of renewable generation. The consistency of results obtained by the two indices applied in the proposed methodology encourages adopting the proposed approach for evaluating the impact of new connections of renewable resources. The models proposed in the thesis contribute to promote safer integration of renewable resources in distribution systems by modeling two main features: uncertainty and non-controllability.

<p>In reregulated and restructured electricity markets the production and retail of electricity is conducted on competitive markets, the transmission and distribution on the other hand can be considered as natural monopolies. The financial regulation of Distribution System Operators (DSOs) has in many countries, partly as a consequence of the restructuring in ownership, gone through a major switch in regulatory policy. From applying regulatory regimes were the DSOs were allowed to charge their customers according to their actual cost plus some profit, i.e. cost-based regulation, to regulatory models in which the DSOs performance are valued in order to set the allowable revenue, i.e. Performance-Based Regulation (PBR). In regulatory regimes that value performance, the direct link between cost and income is weakened or sometimes removed. This give the regulated DSOs strong cost cutting incentives and there is consequently a risk of system reliability deterioration due to postponed maintenance and investments in order to save costs. To balance this risk the PBR-framework is normally complemented with some kind of quality regulation (QR). How both the PBR and QR frameworks are constructed determines the incentive that the DSO will act on and will therefore influence the system reliability development.</p><p>This thesis links the areas of distribution system reliability and performancebased regulation. First, the key incentive features within PBR, that includes the quality of supply, are identified using qualitative measures that involve analyses of applied regulatory regimes, and general regulatory policies. This results in a qualitative comparison of applied PBR models. Further, the qualitative results are quantified and analysed further using time sequential Monte Carlo simulations (MCS). The MCS enables detailed analysis of regulatory features, parameter settings and financial risk assessments. In addition, the applied PBRframeworks can be quantitatively compared. Finally, some focus have been put on the Swedish regulation and the tool developed for DSO regulation, the Network Performance Assessment Model (NPAM), what obstacles there might be and what consequences it might bring when in affect.</p>

In the recent years, governments have encouraged the utilization of renewable energy by providing incentives to investors, and enhancing traditional practices in the sector. For example, in Ontario, Canada, local distribution companies can now legally own and operate up to 10 MW generating plant per location as long as it is from a renewable source. Although this trend results in some operational benefits for the host networks, it also creates specific technical challenges and economic problems. New modeling approaches are needed to account for the main features of power produced by these facilities, namely, the uncertainty and uncontrollability. The uncertainty of power produced by weather-based generating facilities affects the decisions of different activities related to the operation of distribution systems. Examples of these tasks include power procurement decisions, the assessment of voltage magnitude variation, and reactive power management. If not properly included, uncertainty could result in non optimal outcome of operational activities of a distribution system operator. Based on different optimization techniques, the thesis introduces several models that capture the uncertain behavior of renewable resources. Two operational tasks were selected for application using the enhanced models: economical operation of distribution system and impact assessment on voltage magnitude. The power procurement problem is an operational challenge to acquire the correct economic mix of power purchases to supply the demand of a local distribution company. Three models have been presented to formulate the power procurement problem with a consideration of the stochastic nature of renewable generation. These models select the optimal quantities of bilateral contracts under uncertain renewable generation and give the option to decision makers to recalculate the powers from other sources. In one of these proposed models, the mean-variance theory is utilized to evaluate the risk associated with the variation of renewable power output on the financial efficiency of a local distribution company. Unlike previous studies, in which renewable power production is identified as a decision variable, in this work the generation from these units is represented as a parameter to model their feature of uncontrollability. Comparison of results obtained from using the proposed models showed that the degree of uncertainty plays an important role in selecting the proper mix. In general, stochastic based algorithms are superior to deterministic approaches when increasing contributions from renewable resources are considered. A major technical problem that may be caused by the uncertain generation of renewable units is the increase of voltage variation. The second part of the thesis introduces a methodology based on a Monte-Carlo technique to assess new installation depending on its impact on the quality of supply voltage. Two different standard measures for supply voltage quality are applied in this approach to provide the decision maker a tool that can be used to authorize new connections of renewable generation. The consistency of results obtained by the two indices applied in the proposed methodology encourages adopting the proposed approach for evaluating the impact of new connections of renewable resources. The models proposed in the thesis contribute to promote safer integration of renewable resources in distribution systems by modeling two main features: uncertainty and non-controllability.

Over the past decades, the concepts and methods for reliability assessment have evolved from analysing the ability of individual components to operate without faults and as intended during their lifetime, into the comprehensive approaches for evaluating various engineering strategies for system planning, operation and maintenance studies. The conventional reliability assessment procedures now receive different perspectives in different engineering applications and this thesis aims to improve existing approaches by incorporating in the analysis: a) a more detailed and accurate models of LV and MV networks and their reliability equivalents, which are important for the analysis of transmission and sub-transmission networks, b) the variations in characteristics and parameters of LV and MV networks in different areas, specified as “generic” UK/Scottish highly-urban, urban, sub-urban and rural network models, c) the relevant requirements for network reliability performance imposed by Regulators on network operators, d) the actual aggregate load profiles of supplied customers and their correlation with typical daily variations of fault probabilities and repair times of considered network components, and e) some of the expected “smart grid” functionalities, e.g., increased use of network automation and reconfiguration schemes, as well as the higher penetration levels of distributed generation/storage resources. The conventional reliability assessment procedures typically do not include, or only partially include the abovementioned important factors and aspects in the analysis. In order to demonstrate their importance, the analysis presented in the thesis implements both analytical and probabilistic reliability assessment methods in a number of scenarios and study cases with improved and more detailed “generic” LV and MV network models and their reliability equivalents. Their impact on network reliability performance is analysed and quantified in terms of the frequency and duration of long and short supply interruptions (SAIFI and SAIDI), as well as energy not supplied (ENS). This thesis addresses another important aspect of conventional approaches, which often, if not always, provide separate indicators for the assessment of system-based reliability performance and for the assessment of customer-based reliability performance. The presented analysis attempts to more closely relate system reliability performance indicators, which generally correspond to a fictitious “average customer”, to the actual “best-served” and “worst-served” customers in the considered networks. Here, it is shown that a more complex metric than individual reliability indicators should be used for the analysis, as there are different best-served and worst-served customers in terms of the frequency and duration of supply interruptions, as well as amounts of not supplied energy. Finally, the analysis in the thesis considers some aspects of the anticipated transformation of existing networks into the future smart grids, which effectively require to re-evaluate the ways in which network reliability is approached at both planning and operational stages. Smart grids will feature significantly higher penetration levels of variable renewable-based distributed generation technologies (with or without energy storage), as well as the increased operational flexibility, automation and remote control facilities. In this context, the thesis evaluates some of the considered smart grid capabilities and functionalities, showing that improved system reliability performance might result in a deterioration of power quality performance. This is illustrated through the analysis of applied automation, reconfiguration and automatic reclosing/remote switching schemes, which are shown to reduce frequency and duration of long supply interruptions, but will ultimately result in more frequent and/or longer voltage sags and short interruptions. Similarly, distributed generation/storage resources might have strong positive impact on system reliability performance through the reduced power flows in local networks and provision of alternative supply points, even allowing for a fully independent off-grid operation in microgrids, but this may also result in the reduced power quality levels within the microgrids, or elsewhere in the network, e.g. due to a higher number of switching transfers and transients.